Literally thousands of people in Northeast Florida have enjoyed a career in the electrical service industry thanks to the strong electrical apprenticeships in the region.
CareerSource NEFL supports these programs and refers job seekers to these life-changing opportunities provided by partners including the Electrical Training Alliance apprenticeship program and employer Miller Electric – which brings people from throughout the region into the trade.
And more young women are entering the electrical trades now than ever before – including Lorien Culclager.
Miller Electric Company Senior Talent Coordinator Parker Timmons says, “Lorien absolutely blew me away with her professionalism.”
Culclager was a unique candidate to become an electrician: she was a single mom with two children and in her early thirties when she decided to pivot to a new career in the trades.
“When I met Lorien, I was immediately drawn to her…I noticed how well of a note taker she was,” Timmons said. “All the questions she asked were nearly always centered around safety, and that being one of the biggest core values of Miller Electric, my ears perked up.”
A graduate from Robert E. Lee High School (renamed Riverside High School in 2021), she had already attained an associate’s degree in business administration at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), then left for Orlando to take accounting and other classes at the University of Central Florida (UCF).
“After I left UCF, I came back to Jacksonville and became a banker for Wells Fargo,” she said. “I was also attending classes at the University of North Florida, and working at the bank to save up some money, but I just wasn’t enjoying the work. I felt like I had to find something more rewarding, and really wanted to do work that was more ‘hands-on.’ ”
After attending a recruitment event at CareerSource NEFL, and learning more from the organization’s apprenticeship navigator Doreen Lund, Culclager continued the pursuit in earnest – looking at different opportunities in the trade industry, including apprenticeships.
“I saw other jobs in the trades, but was most excited about becoming an electrician,” she said.
Culclager began her career change last July: entering Miller Electric Company’s Trade Pro Academy – a four-week paid training program created for individuals with no prior experience in the trades .
Participants in the academy also obtain six key safety credentials (which includes OSHA-10, forklift operation, lull, lift, and fall protection). After graduating, they transition directly into full-time employment at Miller Electric and are fast-tracked into the tuition-free, paid apprenticeship program.
Timmons says the program is “like an accelerated bootcamp,” and Culclager had about 17 others in her group. While some didn’t pass the program, Timmons notes that Culclager passed “with flying colors.” Also, in addition to receiving an hourly wage during the apprenticeship, all the associated certifications are provided free as part of the program.
“I was impressed with Lorien because she had so many specific questions during training: what kind of wire we would be working on, amperage and so on,” Timmons said. “She was super inquisitive, and also asked how to get in touch with women’s groups within the trade. I knew her poise and her patience came from somewhere, and she was hungry for an opportunity to make a name for herself. She’s continued to do that ever since she graduated from the academy last fall.”
Culclager received hands-on experience at the Electrical Training Alliance’s facility on Richard Street. At the same time, she had already submitted her apprenticeship application. By the time she graduated from the academy, Culclager was accepted into the apprenticeship program…making her an official union member of local union 177… and rolled right into the field to work.
Culclager was assigned to electrical field work at off-site locations: first at the Toyota Distribution Center, and then moving on to her current assignment at the King’s Bay submarine facility north of Jacksonville.
“I actually love this work, which you would never think looking at me dressed up and wearing makeup, but some sites are messy, and I get dirty, but I also get to be creative,” she said. “Also, I get hyper aware of what’s going on around me on a job site…with all the people everywhere, and all my senses stimulated. The first time I went on a job site it was the first time I’d experienced something like that. It’s just exciting. Of course, working with electricity is one of the most dangerous things on the planet, but as long as you’re doing what you need to do to be safe, and ensuring the people working along with you to be safe, that’s the most important thing.”
For anyone considering an apprenticeship, or changing their career path, Culclager says it’s never too late.
“There’s nothing wrong with exploring the things that you are interested in,” she said. “There are so many other careers out there…and the job you may be in now just may have served you in one season of life, but it may not serve you in the current season of life. And, if it doesn’t work out you can always change your path again. I do think it’s smart to make sure you have your finances in place, so if you decide to pivot you won’t lose the most important part, which is your future security.”
For Timmons, who has a commitment to advocate for young women in the industry, she has been happy to enjoy a professional and personal relationship with Culclager.
“It’s been such a wonderful friendship, along with the professional working relationship that we’ve developed,” she said. “I’m very proud of Lorien and what she’s continued to accomplish in her new career.”
CareerSource NEFL provides training funds to local electrical companies to support workforce development and industry skill advancement. Current participating employers include Miller Electric Company, Cogburn Brothers, and Mardant Electrical Construction Company.
Since 2005, CareerSource NEFL has partnered with the Electrical Training Alliance of Jacksonville to support apprenticeship training through its Customized Training Program. Under this partnership, CareerSource Northeast Florida reimburses participating employers for eligible training costs that support apprentices throughout the completion of the program, which may span up to five years. The apprenticeship curriculum includes training in safety, electrical codes, industry best practices, installation techniques, electrical theory, and the proper use of tools, materials, and equipment.
Photo Caption: Lorien Culclager (left), an apprentice electrician and one of many young women entering the trades, along with Miller Electric Company Senior Talent Coordinator Parker Timmons. Culclager is currently doing electrical work at the King’s Bay submarine facility north of Jacksonville.